St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-06-09
JOHN SHERMAN SPEAKS AGAIN.
A Remarkable Speech at Linco1n,s Home

John Sherman, one of the most
prominent candidates of the republi-
cans for president in 1888, by invita-
ton addressed the republicans at
Springfield, Illinois, June 1. Below
are liberal extracts. After making the
democratic party responsible for the
war the senator said:
AS to the southern wing of the dem
Ocratic party, they at least had during
the war the courage of their cOnvic-
tiOns. Led by false theories and local
pride into armed resistance, they did
maintain their cause with even more
than the courage and sacrifices of the
loyalists of La Vendee. While con-
demning their cause we can respect
their fidelity to it and the sincerity of
their motives. But, in spite of all,
rebels and cOpperheads combined, in
spite of English cruisers under rebel
flags and English cannon, muskets,
arms and ammunition, the Union ar
mics prevailed. Lincoln was re-elect-
ed, army after army surrendered to
Gen. Grant, the Union was restored
and the flag of our country waved in
ilOHl 3
Texas. One blow was yet to be struck
and that was by the hand of an assas-
sin, inspired by the fanaticism of the
rebellion. Lincoln was killed when
his heart was full of gratitude to God,
generosity to vanquished rebels and
good will to all men. The veteran az
mics of the Union were rapidly dis
banded. Many of you, no doubt, wit
messed, and some of you, no doubt,
marched in the grandest pageant of
modern times, the review of the armies
of Gen. Grant and Gen. Sherman in
the streets of Washington and their
return to their homes. Let us pause
at the end of the war and imagine with
what feeling these returning soldiers
would have received the prophecy that
within 90 years the same elements of
hostility to the Union cause, the same
alliance between cOnfederates and
their sympathizers would be in posses
sion of the presidential office and in
substantial control of the government !;
that the slaves, though nominally free,
were deprived, by unlawful means, of
all political power, and their numbers
counted to swell the political power of
their former owners. Who could be-
lieve that such could be the result
And what IL mOckery of justice ; what
a reprOach to our patriotism what a
shame to our loyal people that it is SO.
Let us see where the fault lies.
After the war and the reconstruction
acts, the following was the state of
things as described by Senator Sher-
man:
What language can express the cruel
and barbarous atrOcity of the controlling
elements of the South in their treatment
of republicans both white and black,
and especially of the freedmen who had
been invested by constitutional amend
ments with liberty and political rights.
Taking advantage of the detection of
Andrew johnson and his reconstruct
ton policy they commenced with laws
that denied the freedmen liberty of
speech and of the press, and even the
personal freedom and protection allow
ed by the laws of the most despotic
powers in Europe to the meanest serf,
followed by Wholesale assassination Of
and undisciplined negroes
inflicted by secret, organized and dis
guised bands, using all the agencies of
terror and superstition that could af-
feet the mind of an ignorant and cred
ulOus people with such success that in
10 years after the war the freedman of
the South could not, as a rule, vote
wherever their vote would change the
result, they could hold no office, and
might be cheated and robbed and muir
dered with impunity. This intimida-
ton was, in many places, especially in
the far South, extended to white re-
publicans of character and intelligence,
among them some confederate soldiers,
who resisted as far as they could these
and were branded with OPP
probriOus epithets, taboOed and Ostra
cized, and, in some cases, murdered.
Does any man deny this? All this
and more, in hideOus detail, was prov
ed before committees of congress-, was
reported by officers of the army and
evidenced by every form of proof
known to courts, and, in many cases,
was admitted by the press and people
of the South and defended. Gen. Raum,
a distinguished citizen of Illinois, has,
in this book | have before me, COM
piled and condensed this evidence, and
| say to you that no man can read it
without being convinced that all | say
is true, with revolving details that [ do
not give. In this way and by these
means, the democratic party in the
South now hold in solid and unbrOken
array every southern state with in
creased political power conferred by
the freedom of the slaves. This is the
basis of their power. Without the ter
ror and ostracism | have described,
several of these states, governed by
their interests and convictions, en-
lightened by free discussion, enamel
pated in fact as we'll as in name, would
be as thoroughly republican as Illinois.
1t is said that this is raising the bloody
shirt; renewing the animosities of the
war. L deny it. The charge is an I'M
just reproach of confederate soldiers.
What l speak of is not the work of
soldiers, but of towards and criminals
not in war but in peace. L pity the
man who cannot distinguish between
the duty of soldier and self-imposed
and barbarous methods born
Of slavery.
What has been the course of the
lemocractic party of the North while
these events have been going on? At
irst there was doubt and denial, but
now no honest man can doubt, unless |
ignorant. No democrat with
/ spark of manhood who hates these |
can shield himself behind !
lOubt or disbelief. And, fellOw-citi-
.ens this is not thing of the past. 1t
s continuing fact. 1t is fact to-
lay. There is not an intelligent man
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